Arts vital to economic revitalization in Birmingham, leaders say

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Development projects focused on the arts can lead to economic revitalization in downtown Birmingham and in the city's neighborhoods, the heads of several arts projects said this morning.

Main Street Birmingham's renovated section of buildings in Woodlawn, 55th Place Arts, has its first tenant. City Arts Boutique's Brooke Fleming is set to open her shop in a portion of the space.
taken December 8 ,2011. (The Birmingham News/Tamika Moore)

At Operation New Birmingham's monthly breakfast briefing at The Harbert Center, three people involved with arts development projects spoke about how each contributes to the livelihood of those directly and indirectly impacted by their initiatives.

A new arts incubator in Woodlawn, 55th Place Arts Incubator, is meant to attract creative minds to work and collaborate. Elizabeth Barbaree-Tasker, interim executive director of Main Street Birmingham, said the idea is to bring new audiences to Woodlawn.

"We think it adds to revitalization because the more traffic you bring, the more likely people are to have a good experience and attract more investment," she said.

So far, 55th Place Arts has filled three of the spaces with existing businesses and is negotiating leases with two others. One potential tenant is a music producer, and the other is a photographer who plans to host musical performances and other showings. One of the current tenants, City Arts Boutique, just had its grand opening and features clothing and art from a variety of Birmingham-area artists.